that's it for us at 5:00. cbs evening news is next. caption colorado, l.l.c. comments@captioncolorado.com >> smith: tonight, after more than seven years of war, the president announcing the end of u.s. combat operations in iraq. >> we have met our responsibilities. now it's time to turn the page. is. >> smith: also tonight, hurrican earl, a hurricane watch goes up in north carolina after the powerful and dangerous storm shows what it can do in the caribbean. and families reunited. a joyous homecoming for soldiers back from war. captioning sponsored by cbs from cbs news world headquarters in new york, this is the "cbs evening news" with katie couric. >> smith: and this is a special western edition. good evening, katie is off tonight. after seven and a half years of war, u.s. combat operations in iraq have come to an end and president obama went on national television tonight to make the announcement. since the 2003 invasion to oust saddam hussein, more than 4,400 americans have died. more than 34,000 have been wounded. price tag: $744 b